> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.flowengineering.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Automation overview

> Connect events to automation runs and choose the right trigger.

An automation combines instructions with a trigger. Configure it in Flow, send an event, and use the API to track the resulting runs.

## Choose a trigger

| Trigger        | Use it for                                                     |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Custom webhook | Events from your own tools, identified by a webhook name.      |
| API endpoint   | Automations configured with the `endpoint` source.             |
| Connected app  | Events from an app connected to Flow, such as GitHub or Slack. |
| Branch review  | Checks and actions associated with a Flow branch review.       |

Integrations connect external apps to Flow. Automations define the work Flow runs when an event arrives.

## Set up and run

1. [Set up a webhook automation](/api/automations/webhooks): configure its instructions and name, then send a JSON event.
2. [Trigger and poll automations](/api/examples/automations): start runs asynchronously, store their IDs, and read the results.
3. Use the [endpoint reference](/api/reference) for complete request and response schemas.

A trigger request matches automations by source. One request can start multiple runs. Include `project_id` to target the intended project, and track each returned `agent_id` separately.

## Automation endpoints

All automation endpoints remain in **Endpoints**. These guides explain how to use them together.

* [Trigger from any source](/api/endpoints/post-ai-trigger)
* [Trigger from GitHub](/api/endpoints/post-ai-trigger-github)
* [Poll automation runs](/api/endpoints/get-ai-trigger-runs)
* [Trigger branch-review automations](/api/endpoints/post-ai-trigger-branch)
* [Re-run branch-review automations](/api/endpoints/post-ai-trigger-branch-rerun)
* [Get branch checks](/api/endpoints/get-ai-trigger-branch-checks)
* [Get branch automation status](/api/endpoints/get-ai-trigger-branch-status)